Can't figure out cues for new horse - any ideas?

[Brnord]

I’ve had my Quarter Horse since he was born in 1997, got him when I was 13. I was a complete novice but under the guidance of a trainer, was part of the training process the whole time. I ride in a Western Saddle and thought I’ve been riding with Western cues all along.

Fast forward 20 years and we recently got our own barn and acerage, plus a Tennesee Walker pasture mate who just came off 8 weeks of refresher training. I am more than competent on my Raven but climbing up on the TW, I can’t figure out his cues for the life of me. He’s frustrated with me and I feel bad for him.

My horse leg yields, neck reins and will spin toward weight in the inside stirrup. I can also grab both reins and close the outside, open the inside plus really get him under himself like in dressage - back up, arched neck. The original trainer was a dressage trainer but dabbled in western and I fear I’ve developed some dressage-y western style that only my horse knows.

The TW obviously has training and experience, but seems to respond to none of what I know well. He seems to want to bend around the inside leg - opposite of leg yielding and may have some response to both reins moving in the direction of the turn, but its inconsistent at best. We are fine on trails but in an open space, I look like I’ve never ridden.

Any tips on what I can try? I’m not exactly a novice but really only have 19 years of experience on one horse.

Thanks!

[Huntin_Pony]

Can you spend some time with the person who did the “8 weeks of refresher training” and get some help?

[Palm_Beach]

^^^ Agree. I’ve been riding for decades but I’ve never ridden a gaited horse. If I ever do try one, I’d like it to be with someone who can explain the gaits and proper cues to me.

[hank]

Many times, gaited horses are trained completely opposite of the way you know. They are ridden inverted to smooth out the gait, and legs mean nearly nothing to them. If it were me, I would start slowly and patiently from the beginning with the new horse, he will learn to adapt to how you ride.

[Brnord]

Yes, I could probably find the trainer - the owner of the TW is my neighbor and he was going to sell him (hence the training) because he doesn’t have time for him. But, I offered him a sweetheart deal on boarding so I can have a cheap pasture mate and he can still visit if he wants. We love the horse now so if he ever got serious about selling again, we’d buy in an instant.

In the end, maybe I’ll take Hank’s approach - take it slow and we’ll figure each other out. But, maybe I’ll see if I can get a hold of the trainer to come out for one session or at least chat for 20 minutes on the phone. The owner hasn’t ridden him in years so I’m not sure he’s the best resource.

Thanks for the responses - keep’em coming if folks have other ideas.

[ClassyRide]

Just a quick idea for you (may not work, but figured I’d put it out there just in case). My old gelding was a Saddlebred, so not quite the same thing. But when I first brought him home, he steered off of reins alone. And not quite the same rein cues you describe.

With him, all I had to do was point his nose where wanted him to go, and he would comply. That required direct reining - to turn right, pull the right rein toward you so you point his face to the right. And vice versa for turning left.

Leg and seat were only there for support - somebody somewhere along the way had taught him to follow his face above all else. Maybe your guy is the same? Worth a shot, anyway. Just try it slowly/gently and see whether he responds.

Best of luck! It’s always a challenge learning to ride a horse with a different set of buttons, but oh so worth the experience and accomplishment you feel once you figure it out!

[ReSomething]

TWH are weird. Often they ride with a specific bit type from National Bridle http://www.nationalbridle.com/inc/sdetail/sliding_cheek_walking_horse_bit__arch_port/436/442 that has a lot of lateral play, and you are expected to direct rein your curb, elbow to hip is what they used to yell at me, even if you use one hand, it’s some strange bridge of the hand, but very much like Classy Ride says. They are expected to be “up in the bridle”, not Western at all. Quite a bit of rein contact and each horse is also quite different.
“Putting a canter” on a TWH was always something “hard to do”, and supposedly it can be difficult in the lateral gaited breeds.
I would definitely get a lesson or two or three with the original trainer, because this isn’t a neck reining Western horse, not really.

ETA I just took out a link that went to someone’s photobucket account, I got it off google and it popped up as a photobucket, and I don’t care to do that, I’ll find something in the public realm.

[Brnord]

If he truly is trained to bend around inside leg pressure and direct rein, this might explain our confusion - it’s nearly the opposite of how my horse responds. I’m going to give that a shot one night this week.

Even if it works, I think I’d benefit from meeting with the trainer anyway so I know the proper cues for picking up the various gaits since they’re so different from my QH. I’ve left a message with her.

Thanks again!

[ReSomething]

A lot of gaited riders really don’t use leg. They ride with a flare leg and only use leg for active cues. Note on the National Bridle site how long the guy’s legs are in the riding the gaited horse videos and how he rides like a knight in shining armor, with a leg that hangs down below the horse’s barrel, the only time that leg is in use is to come up with the heel for a spur cue. The horse may or may not bend around the leg at all.

[Brnord]

Yah, someone else mentioned that might be true, but that’s the one thing I’ve really been able to get a repeatable response from, even though it’s not terribly strong. It may not be a primary cue or maybe it’s something he picked up from a previous trainer, but I feel like it means something to him.

But, I still appreciate the additional input. I’ll circle back here to let folks know what the trainer says.

Thanks!